Education event set ‘Room’ honored with award

Youth education will be topic of conference

MARQUETTE – Richard Cohen will be the featured speaker at the Upper Peninsula Association for the Education of Young Children Conference at Northern Michigan University on Oct. 13. The conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in the Don H. Bottum University Center.

A registration fee of $50 per person or $40 for current UPAEYC members includes lunch. Cohen, an early childhood author and motivational speaker, will be presenting “The Spirit of Play” and “Room to Grow; Creating Environments that Nurture the Spirit”.

The conference will explore why children need to play, how they learn through play and the changing face of play in contemporary society.

The UPAEYC conference will be of interest to preschool and elementary teachers, infant and toddler teachers, family child care providers, child care center staff, elementary school support staff, and parents. For a full day of attendance, .5 SB-CEUs will be offered for an additional fee. Registration information can be obtained from Judy Place at jplace@nmu.edu, by calling (906) 226-9904, or online at www.upaeyc.org.

MARQUETTE – Room at the Inn, a grassroots community ministry serving the homeless in Marquette and the surrounding area, has received national recognition for its efforts to serve the poor and build faith. The ministry was named one of 12 Lumen Christi Award finalists, earning a $10,000 grant.

Thirty-five years ago, Catholic Extension started the Lumen Christi, or Light of Christ Award.

In support of the nomination, one previous guest of Room at the Inn wrote, “Our humanity was never diminished, our privacy always respected, and we were made to feel worthy when we felt less. We were troublesome at times, yet, still shown love. We were given value again. Hope was renewed, life became possible, and broken spirits began to heal.”

The finalist award is accompanied by a $10,000 grant shared between the nominee and the nominating diocese.

Room at the Inn founder and board member, Helen McCormick, said that the shelter is looking to hire a part-time executive director.

“We currently have one paid staff member, a part-time social worker. The demands on her are many, and there is a great need for a second staff member to help direct the work of the shelter,” said McCormick. The award money will be used to help fund the new position.

Room at the Inn is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization. Catholic Social Services of the Upper Peninsula assisted with startup of the organization in 2007 by providing administrative services, creating a training program for volunteers, stewarding donations, and continues to provide rent-free office space to the organization. Room at the Inn is governed by an elected board of directors.